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Album: Sinner
Artist: Drowning Pool
Year: 2001
Genre: Nu Metal/Hard Rock

Spark Notes Review:
Drowning Pool’s debut album, Sinner, is the only full-length release to feature lead singer Dave Williams, who died of heart failure on tour in 2002. It is also Drowning Pool’s most successful album, reaching platinum status just six weeks after its release. Despite looking a lot like every other Korn copycat to emerge in the late 90’s, these guys join the ranks of the select few who are just plain better. The riffs are huge, the drum beats are heavy, and best of all the vocals are damn good. Williams differentiates himself from most Nu Metal singers with his range and diversity. True, he stays between screaming, grit, and melody, he stretches each very well. Sinner is one of the best examples of “what could have been…” in modern metal.

Track-by-Track:
1. Sinner – Remember those monster riffs I mentioned early? Look no further than the title track and third single, Sinner. Crunchy, pummeling riffs rip through the verses, and distorted ripples compliment the chorus. Williams opens the track with his grit-laced snarls which gives way to a melodic voice in the chorus that sounds like someone who can actually sing. While many Nu Metal bands like to hit their peak during the chorus, breaking out in screams, snarls, and rants, Sinner makes the verses the focal point, putting the chorus in for a breather.
2. Bodies – The lead single, Bodies, has garnered great popularity for Drowning Pool. Featured in many movies, commercials, and video games, this song is a hit in every sense of the word, and for good reason. Bodies is an odd combination of pummeling metal and dance beats. Williams shows the lower range of his scream over sections of the song that were obviously meant to be moved to and his melodic singing over militaristic background barks. If for some inexplicable reason you only get one song from Sinner, this should be it.
3. Tear Away – Opening with William’s smooth delivery rolling over electronic noise, this is a prime example of the slight diversity Sinner employs to stand out from the pack. Only letting lose a few times, this song has restrained and tightly wound feel to it. The guitars surge and whine, rising momentarily, only to slip back down into the brooding, distorted riffs. A song meant to be felt more than heard.

Opinion:
Buy it. If you like Nu Metal, Alt. Metal, Hard Rock, etc this is a great album to pick up.

“If you liked this…”:
The Sickness – Disturbed
Saturate – Breaking Benjamin
One-X – Three Days Grace

 

Aqualung

Thanks for the review! The "If you liked this" was an especially helpful touch. Good job.

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Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

Dannn

Bodies Rules!

RickenbackerBassPlayer

I don't think I have ever heard them. Nice review.

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"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Seke

great review sweet!